X Factor 2012: Meet the 25 acts through to the judges’ houses

The 25 acts who have made it to the judges’ houses stage of The X Factor have been revealed – but who made the cut? Avoid confusion with Metro’s handy guide to the top 25.

Ella Henderson is one of the favourites to win The X Factor 2012 (Picture: ITV)BOYS (mentored by Nicole Scherzinger )Jahmene Douglas

Shy Asda worker Jahmene, 21, is from Swindon and became the hottest favourite in X Factor history when his audition – which saw him singing Etta James ‘ At Last – was screened in the launch edition.

The clean-living singer – who has performed in church and at weddings and claims he has ‘never been in love’ – made it through despite giving a disappointing performance at boot camp and having to receive medical treatment after feeling unwell before his final performance.

Rylan Clark

Rylan is a 23-year-old model and performer from Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, who has performed in Westlife and Take That tribute bands and who made it through to boot camp despite dividing the judges with his upbeat rendition of Des’ree’s Kissing You.

He has admitted that he was bullied in the past and is now ‘obsessed’ with his image.

James Arthur’s guitar-led performances have been a hit with the judges (Pcture: PA)Jake Quickenden

Jake, a 23-year-old lifeguard from Scunthorpe, made it through after singing Kings Of Leon’s Use Somebody at the Manchester auditions – and survived bootcamp despite having to perform with Robbie Hance, who forgot his words mid-song after missing rehearsals.

Jake recently revealed that his 19-year-old brother Oliver – who was seen cheering him on at the auditions – tragically died of bone cancer on September 8, just days after his original audition was screened.

James Arthur

24-year-old James, from Middlesborough, wowed the panel with his emotional acoustic rendition of Tulisa’s Young at the auditions – and revealed a traumatic past which saw him spend time in care and also homeless after his parents split up.

He also told the judges that his parents had been united together for the first time in years in a bid to support him through his audition.

Adam Burridge

Although he is currently working as an admin assistant for a family double glazing firm, 23-year-old Adam – who is from Harrow in Middlesex – has always had his sights on a music career.

He began playing guitar when he was 15 years old – and went on to impress the judges at the London auditions with his version of David Guetta’s Titanium.

Possibly the most experienced of all the boys when it comes to the music industry, 25-year-old Nathan – also known as Starboy Nathan – has scored a couple of minor chart hits, including 2005’s Come Into My Room – which reached number 35 – and 2010’s Diamonds, which peaked at number 23.

Nathan, who lists his occupation as a singer-songwriter, was born in south London but spent much of his childhood in Jamaica and New York, where he lived until he was 11.

GIRLS (mentored by Tulisa)Ella Henderson

16-year-old Ella is from Tetney in Lincolnshire, and became one of the early favourites when she appeared on the launch edition, singing a self-penned song which she dedicated to her late grandfather.

She has since revealed she almost missed her chance at X Factor stardom as the auditions clashed with her GCSEs. However the teenager managed to do both – and is now the current favourite to win.

Amy Mottram

Amy is a 16-year-old student who has been dubbed the ‘Essex Adele’ following her prowess in local karaoke contests. And it was an Adele song – The One and Only – which she chose when she wowed the judges at the London auditions.

The teenager – who auditioned in glittery trainers – has admitted she is a ‘typical Essex girl’ who loves ‘fake nails, hair and eyelashes’.

Lucy Spraggan was another act who brought her guitar to boot camp (Picture: PA)Lucy Spraggan

Lucy, who is 20 years old, hails from Buxton in Derbyshire, and caused a stir when she appeared in the second show performing her self-penned ‘beer fear’ anthem Last Night. The song leapt up the iTunes chart within hours of the audition being screened, until the singer was ordered to withdraw it from iTunes due to her involvement in the show.

Lucy, who released an album called Top Room At The Zoo last year, is openly gay and has said she hopes her appearance on the show will help her ‘find a girlfriend’.

Jade Collins

Belfast teenager Jade, 17, gave an emotional rendition of Beyonce’s Sweet Dreams on the penultimate auditions show – and made an impact with her powerful voice and quirky sense of style.

She confessed during the auditions that her dad had ‘been in prison ever since I can remember’ and said that she wished he had been there to see her make it through to boot camp.

Jade Ellis

One of the older girls in the competition, 25-year-old Jade is from south London and works as a bike mechanic – although she is hoping to realise her singing ambitions after making it to the judges’ houses.

Jade, who has a six-year-old daughter, revealed on the show that she had plans to pursue a musical career but put them on hold after she became pregnant aged 19.

Jade Ellis is hoping The X Factor can kickstart her singing career (Picture: ITV)Leanne Robinson

Leanne appeared only briefly on the penultimate auditions show but is set to make a bigger impact on the show after reaching the judges’ houses.

The 22-year-old, who works as a sales assistant, is from south London and is a former graduate of The Brit School – whose former pupils also include Jessie J and Adele.

GROUPS (mentored by Louis Walsh)Poisonous Twin

The only all-girl group remaining in the competition, Poisonous Twin consists of members Sophie Houghton and Stephanie McMichael.

The latter briefly found fame when she appeared on the 2008 series of Big Brother, and became involved in a task which saw her having to pose as another housemate’s girlfriend – although she failed the mission and later became the first person evicted from the house.

MK1

Male-female duo MK1 consist of members Simeon and Lotte, who originally auditioned as a trio but have since shrunk to a duo.

The pair claim they have ‘crazy amounts of energy’ and are as happy performing old songs as they are new ones – provided they can give them a contemporary twist.

Duke

One of several boy bands in the final line-up, Gloucestershire based band Duke consists of 26-year-old Marko, 39-year-old Ed and Flynn, 31.

The band, who described themselves as ‘very very childish’, have been together for six years and began life rehearsing in Marko’s garden shed before setting their sights elsewhere.

GMD3

Boy band trio GMD 3 – featuring members Greg, Dan and Mickey, all aged 17-19 – narrowly made it into the competition after judges found it impossible to choose between them and another boyband trio, Triple J.

After an impromptu sing-off, which saw both having to do a quick-fire acapella song, GMD3 were chosen to proceed to the judges’ houses.

Poisonous Twin are the only remaining all-female group in the competition (Picture: ITV)Mitsotu

Yet another trio, Mitsotu’s members are Jimmy, 23, Holly, 22, and James, 22, who are from north London and Kent.

Although the trio are more used to smaller venues they treat The X Factor performances as though they were playing major arenas, confessing, ‘nothing can prepare you for the scale of it’.

Times Red

Boyband trio Times Red were originally axed from the line-up at bootcamp, but were reinstated as extra-semi finalists after Rough Copy were forced to quit the show due to visa issues with band member Kazeem Ajobe.

The lads – 20-year-old Staz, 24-year-old Luke and Scott, 25 – are from Essex and made their mark at the auditions with an acoustic rendition of Amy Winehouse’s Rehab.

Times Red were given the boot at bootcamp – but now they’re back (Picture: ITV)Union J

Originally known as Triple J the boys – JJ, 23, Josh, 19, and 22-year-old Jaymi – initially missed out on boot camp after a sudden death sing-off with GMD3 – but were brought back in following Rough Copy’s departure.

A fourth member, boot camp reject George Shelley, 18, was added to the line-up and the band underwent their name change.

OVER 28s (mentored by Gary Barlow)Carolynne Poole

32-year-old Carolynne, from Huddersfield, narrowly missed out on reaching the live shows last year after she was rejected at the judges’ houses by 2011’s Overs mentor Louis Walsh.

She previously appeared on the BBC’s talent show Fame Academy (under her maiden name Carolynne Good) in 2002, finishing in third place – and has also appeared in Emmerdale.

Carolynne Poole is hoping it will be second time lucky for her at the judges’ houses (Picture: PA)Christopher Maloney

Christopher, who is 34 and from Liverpool, left the judges stunned at auditions with his emotional performance of Bette Midler’s The Rose – which he dedicated to his late grandfather.

The call centre worker admitted it had taken him five years to pluck up the courage to audition for The X Factor after filling the application form in but never sending it.

Nicola-Marie Bloor

35-year-old Nicola divided the judges with her flamboyant performance during the auditions but nonetheless made it to the judges’ houses.

Nicola, who is from Derbyshire, has also released songs under the name Nikia Aniston, and has worked as a cruise ship entertainer and Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse tribute act.

Brad Shackleton

Possibly the least seen of the 25 acts to make the judges’ houses, 37-year-old Brad’s performance at the Cardiff auditions was screened on the ITV2 show The Xtra Factor.

Brad works as a songwriter and a motivational speaker, and has said his ambition is to work with Gary Barlow. He added that he has ‘loved every second of The X Factor experience’.

Christopher Maloney couldn’t hide his emotion upon learning he had made the judges’ houses (Picture: ITV)Melanie Masson

Glasgow native Melanie is one of the oldest acts in the contest at 44. The mother of two has worked as a session singer with the likes of Kasabian and Stereophonics, but now runs a singing class for the under-fives.

She has said that she sees X Factor as her ‘last chance’ to launch a singing career in her own right.

Kye Sones

Singing chimney sweep Kye is 30 comes from London and was one of the standout acts of the second auditions show with his mash-up of Swedish House Mafia’s Save The World and Rita Ora’s RIP.

Kye is no stranger to the music scene, having previously been a member of the electro-pop band Diagram Of The Heart.